Trolley harp and means for effectively operating the same



my n, um. y www@ H, RAMELOW n TROLLEY H'MlP AND MEANS 'F'OR FFECTIEIJY'OPRTNG THE SAME med Ney. 12. 1923 x vll a "l I, K/Y/ messes.' i myINVENTOR. -W/m/v,

Patented g.luly l, l924e HENRY nAI/InLow, or SPRINGFIELD, ILLINOIS.

TROLLEY HARP AND MEANS FOB EFFECTIVELY OPERATING THE SAME.

Application led November 12, 1923.

To all whom t may concer/n.'

Be it known that I, HENRY RAMnLow, a citizen of the Unitedr States,residing at Springlield, /in the county of Sangamon, State of Illinois,have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Trolley I-Iarps andMeans for Effectively Operating the Same, of which the following is aspecification.

This invention relates to electric trolley wheel harps of the characterthat is adapted to be easily and quickly attached or removed, andlwhenin operation on a street car or other electric trains that secure theirpower from a trolley wire, is adapted to stand in a.

vertical position when mounted on its support as it pulls a trolleywheel against a trolley wire.

The purposes of this invention, therefore, are first to provide an'economic and simple device that in its method of operation will have atendency to prolong the life of a trolley wheel.

A further object of my invention is to provide a device that is adaptedto be revolubly mo-unted in a verticallyy positioned tubular support insuch a way that when functioning as a harp for a trolley wheel it willoscillate when necessary upon its support when in normal use and thusallow a trolley wheel to keep in perfect alignment with a trolley wireat all times and particularly at a time when the car is negotiating eventhe shortest of curves.

A further object of my invention is to provide a trolley wheel harp ofthe character described that is provided with means for normally holdingthe trolley wheel harp in alignment with the trolley pole and trolleywire when the car is traveling. In this device this much desired resultis accomplished through the springy action of two side mounted inwardlypressing springy devices vwhich are adapted to exert `on correspondingopposite sides of the shank of said trolley harp, against a flattenedsurface thereon, an inwardl horizontal pressure that will tend toretract said trolley harp to a position of normal alignment with saidtrolley pole and trolley wire after the same has been slightly revolvedon its` support in negotiating a curve.

A further object of my invention is to provide a trolley harp that hasadequate springy means for limiting the oscillations of the trolleywheel that might be supported Serial No. 674,265.

thereby-and yet allow said trolley harp and wheel to oscillatesufficiently to enable the same to keep in easy alignment with thetrolley wire when negotiating a curve andl to normally cause the same toretract to a normal position of alignment with the trol-" ley pole andtrolley wire after getting back on a straight track again. ,c 1

In the subsequent referencesI in this specification, I shall point outthe several novel features of my device which after a `six months testwith one and the same trolley wheel and harp in actual street carservice every single day of the six months, proved beyond question itspractical design and that it accomplishes the purpose for which it wasdesigned when, during that test, the same wheel was used and ran morevthan thirty thousand miles during the six months and the same trolleywheel is still it for two more months of similar service, whereas un derordinary conditions the same wheel would have been worn out, in fromseven days to two weeks.

This much desired and much needed result is attained by the verticaltrolley harp and means for effectively operating the same which isdescribed in the annexed specification, recited in the claims, andillustrated in the accompanying drawings in which, like referencenumerals indicate the same structural parts in the several igures.

Fig. l is a side elevation of the trolley harp of my invention as itwould look when normally seated'on its tubular support.

Fig. 2 is a rear elevation of the trolley harp of my invention.

Fig. 3 is a horizontal vpartial cross-section from M to N exposingtherein some of the structural details and the relation of parts of myinvention.

Fig. 4 is a vertical longitudinal section of the harp support showingthe relation of Athe harp shank to integral cap flange of thetrolleyfharp of my invention. Y

Fig. 5 is a perspective of the trolley harp shank and integral annularcap lange of my invention. This perspective also shows in good detailthe vertical side plane faces notched into the shank for theaccommodause which Cotter-pin 1s used. to preventthe" shank fromslipping out of the tubular support and .in the meantime allow'theshanki v y to oseillate to a limited extent.

Fig.6 is a perspective of a detail design illustrating the constructionof the side springs which .are adapted to exert a side pressure onthe'corresponding notched side plane faces of the shank of the harptending to hold the harp normally in alignment Withthe.l trolley pole,and yet have enough resiliency to allow the harp to operate to anextentwithin ypredetermined limits so that the trolley wheel may freelyfollow the trolley vWire .on a curve and because of the function, of-the springs be normally retracted thereafter to proper alignment withthe trolley lpole after negotiating the curve.

'Figa 7 is a little sketch showing how the trolley Wheel that is inordinary use contacts in a side swiping position with the trolley Wirewhen negotiating a curve, which actionis bound to wear a trolley wheelout .EigyS is aviview similar to the view in Fig.y V7 ,except that itshows the trolley Wheel in perfect alignment with the trolley wire Whenturning a curve, lwhich is made possi- `ble,when-usingthe'trolley harpof my in vention.v j The preferred embodiment of my invention` lisillustra-ted in theseveral figures above `mentioned and the desi-redmeans of operat- -ing this device will be clearly understoodbyecarefully observing the figures given with the instructions Whichfollow for normally operating the device of myinvention:

Referring now to the several elements of n myinvention shown in therespective figures,

Hange cap 2 will rest on and encompass shoulder 11 in lwhich caseshoulder 11 serves asa bearing support for the trolley harp .WhileAannular flange cap 2 covers and protects said bearing. After theharpshank 7 isinserted inposition, lCotter-pin 15 is inserted into hole14 in the tubular support and` allowed to passA through slot 10 in the`vharp .shank'7 in which positionit serves as stop fmeanstoprevent saidharp shank from liftinggout of said tubular ysupport for the saines vInethisconnection itis to be particularly observed' that When' said?shank is in operatingfposition springs 4 Aand 5 are mounted intocooperative position as shown in Fig.-

ure l while at the same time similar springs are respectively mounted onthe opposite side of said harp support as is shown in Figure 3. Afterthese corresponding springs are. mounted, bolt 6 is then used toremovably secure said springs into position where they normally functionas means for retracting said trolley harp to a position of alignmentwith the trolley pole and head after said harp has been caused tooscillate slightly by reason of the pull exerted on the flanges of thetrolley wheel in the tendencyto hold itself into a position of alignmentwith the trolley wire in negotiating a curve.

It is at this point essential to observe that the design of this trolleyharp which enables the trolley wheel to very easily oscillate slightlyon the supporting axis of the harp, makes it possible for the trolleywheel to stay in perfect moving alignment with the trolley Ywire inturning a curve and thus reduce the surface of contact to a very minimumand thenl keep the point of Contact in the bottom of the groove where itnormally should touch, a result obtained by the novel features in thedesign of this trolley harp, which result allows the trolley wheel tonormally roll on the trolley wire as it should do and thus reducefriction to a minimum instead of causing the wheel to side swipe andgrate its flanges against the trolley wire thus causing a maximum offriction and consequent wear on thetrolley wheel itself.

lt has been demonstrated in actual tests with the device of my inventionthat because of the merits in its design it functions so perfectly thatit actually permits the trolley wheel when used in connection therewithto last many times the life of a similar trolley wheel in use with theordinary trolley harp at resent in common use.

articular attention is called to the specific design of springs 4 and 5.Where spring el operates to exert a springy pressure inwardly oncorrespondingly opposite sides of the harp shank where it is adapted' topress against notched flat surface 8 and particularly shaped and fittedto a position where kink 21 normally rests in depression 9 in notch S ofthe harp shank. It is here further noted that longitudnal ridge Q3 nor-'mally rests in longitudinal slot Q2 in which position it is adapted tohold auxiliary spring 5 more securely into operating position where itserves as additional pressur(` means in aiding the functioning of spring4.

Fin guard 16 is made integral with the trolley head 12 and is sopositioned as to normally hold the top .pointof the (in guard in frontof and between the flanges of the trolley wheel 17, there to serve aslimiting means for preventing excessive oscillation of the trolleywheely as well'as to also prevent the cross supporting Wires ofthe-trolley Wire ll (l case the trolley Wheel should accidently loethrown off the Wire, Which incidently is a thinO that seldom happenswhen using t-he trolley harp of my invent-ion.

lt Will be noted that thetubular harp support 3, lin guard '16, springguard 18 and trolley head l2 are all made integral and that when saidtrolley head is mounted for use, trolley pole 25, Fig. l, is insertedinto the socket in head l2 and removably secured thereto by means ofbolt 20, making quick replacement of Aparts possible.

lt is obvious that certain minor details in the construction of myinvention may be altered in their design and still stay Within thespirit and scope of my invention.

Having thus described the nature of my invention, What l claim as nen7and useful, and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

l. The combination with a trolley Wheel and vertical trolley harp of atubular support for the harp, and a solid integral shank of the harpremovably fitted into the tubular support; annular, integral flanged capmeans with said solid harp shank for covering the supporting shoulder ofthe tubular support for the harp; a vertical fin guard integral With theharp support and positioned in front of the trolley Wheel With a pointbetween the flanges thereof adapted to normally hold the extent of Wheeloscillations 'Within predetermined limits; means provided incorresponding opposite cooperating springs for normally retracting theoscillations of the harp and Wheel to a position of alignment With thetrolley pole after turning a curve and yet permitting slight limitedoscillations of the Wheel allowing the same to keep in perfect alignmentwith t-he trolley Wire While turning the curve.

2. The combination With a trolley Wheel and a vertical trolley harp, ofa vertical shank integral with the harp, an annular cap flange integralWith the harp and shank: vertical correspondingly oppositely notchedplane surfaces on the shank; a tubular support for the harp adapted toaccommodate the shank of the harp, the top annular shoulder of saidtubular support removably supporting said annular cap flange of theharp; a fin guard integral with the tubular support for the harp andpositioned in front of the trolley Wheel adapted to hold said trolleyWheel within predetermined oscillating limits; means for removablysecuring the harp in the tubular support and means for automaticallyretracting said vertical harp to a position of a normal alignment withthe trolley pole after turning a curve, as and for the purpose setforth.

3. In a trolley harp of the character described having a solid verticalcylindrical shank integral with an annular flan e cap and a tubularsupport for the harp adapted to accommodate said cylindrical shankandprotected from Water by said annular flange cap, and having integralwith said tubular support a lin guard positioned to prevent excessiveoscillation of a trolley Wheel when in operation; and having meansprovided in corresponding vertical parallel grooves on opposite sides ofsaid shank; a pair of corresponding oppositely positioned removablysecured leaf springs shaped to exertv a horizontal inward pressuresimultaneously against said notches on said shank respec tively as andfor the purpose set forth.

4C. ln'a device of the character described, the combination, comprisinga vertical trolley harp, a vertical tubular support for the harp, avertical solid cylindrical shank integral with `the harp, and an annularflange cap integral therewith, adapted to cover said tubular support andserve as a bearing for said vertical harp; notched parallel verticalgrooves on the shank of said harp located on corresponding oppositesides thereof, and having respectively therein c longitudinal centergrooves; side leaf springs removably secured to the sides of said harpsupport and adapted to press inwardly simultaneously on said notchedcorrespondingly opposite parallel vertical grooves on the shank of saidharp; stop means provided in projections 1n said support for the harp,adapted to,

prevent accidental vertical adjustment of said springs, and stop meansfurther provided in a removably secured anchoring pin passing throughthe base of said harp sup port shank and tubular support thereforadapted to prevent accidental removal of the harp from its tubularsupport.

5. A vertical trolley harp integral with a vertical cylindrical notchedshank and annular flange cap and fin guard; said trolley harposcilla-tably mounted on a vertical cylindrical tubular support for theshank of the harp; integral means With said tubular support provided ina fin guard for holding oscillating harp movements Within predeterminedhorizontal adjustment limits; further integral means for removablysecuring said trolley harp support to a trolley pole for operating use;removable spring means mounted on corresponding opposite sides of saidsupport and adapted to normally exert an inward pressure simultaneouslyagainst the notched grooves on the corresponding sides of saidcylindrical shank for effecting automatically a normal retraction ofsaid harp to a predetermined position of align-r ment with said trolleypole after negotiating curves, whereon the relative correspondingpositions of the trolley Wheel and pole would normally be slightly outof alignment due to the slight oscillation of the trolley harp inpermitting the trolley Wheel to keep in perfect alignment With thetrolley Wire even While turning a curve.y

6. In :a `vertical trolley-,harpand;support1' thelconhinationV with a,solid vertical cylin-` secured to the. side of the support; anintegral-fin guard vmeanssecured to the sup-' port forward of' .thetrolleT Wheel. and adapted .to prevent excessive oscillations oftheWheel; a keyV Way through the bottomenolof said shank and tubularsupport. andV a. cotterwkey for the key Way 'adapted to.

prevent accidental removal of said harp shank Afrom the tubular support:fork the f same ;1 removably secured side springscon cor. respondingopposite sides'o said harp sup-f port'adapted to.` automaticallyexert-simul taneouslyfan inward' side pressure on said notchedgroovesof'said vertical cylindrical harpshank. foirnormally effecting an auto--matic retraction-of' said harp toa normal position ofalignnient with thetrolley pole after-negotiating a curve intransit While supporting atrolley Wheelcontinuously inprefect alignment with the trolley Wire inthe inannerand for the purposeset forth.

In Witness'whereof, I hereunto setv my hand this 26 day of October,1923.

HENRY RAMELO'W;

Witnesses z A.- B lWGCA'LL, J. B. WEAVER.-

